U.S. patent application number 14/853653 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-16 for dual multiray electrode catheter.
The applicant listed for this patent is Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shubhayu Basu, Mario A. Solis.
Application Number | 20170071494 14/853653 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56939882 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170071494 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Solis; Mario A. ; et
al. |
March 16, 2017 |
DUAL MULTIRAY ELECTRODE CATHETER
Abstract
This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a dual multiray
electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body formed
from a plurality of spines with electrodes and a dual multiray
electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body. The dual
multiray electrode assembly may have a proximal multiray array and
a distal multiray array, each array comprising a plurality of
spines connected at one end. The dual multiray electrode assembly
may have an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration
wherein the spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis
of the catheter body.
Inventors: |
Solis; Mario A.; (Rancho
Cucamonga, CA) ; Basu; Shubhayu; (Anaheim,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd. |
Yokneam |
|
IL |
|
|
Family ID: |
56939882 |
Appl. No.: |
14/853653 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2018/00357
20130101; A61B 2018/00267 20130101; A61B 5/6859 20130101; A61B
18/1492 20130101; A61B 2018/00577 20130101; A61B 5/0422
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/042 20060101
A61B005/042; A61B 18/14 20060101 A61B018/14; A61B 5/00 20060101
A61B005/00 |
Claims
1. A catheter comprising an elongated catheter body having proximal
and distal ends and a dual multiray electrode assembly at the
distal end of the catheter body, wherein the dual multiray
electrode assembly comprises a proximal multiray array and a distal
multiray array, each array comprising a plurality of spines
connected at one end and each spine comprising a plurality of
electrodes, and wherein the dual multiray electrode assembly has an
expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration wherein the
spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis of the
catheter body.
2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the spines curve radially
outwardly in the expanded configuration.
3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the spines of the proximal
multiray array and the distal multiray array curve in opposite
directions.
4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the spines of the proximal
multiray array curve proximally and the spines of the distal
multiray array curve distally.
5. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the spines of the proximal
multiray array curve distally and the spines of the distal multiray
array curve proximally.
6. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the spines of the proximal
multiray array and the distal multiray array curve in a same
direction.
7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the elongated catheter body
comprises an inner tubular member slidably disposed within a lumen
of an outer tubular member and wherein the proximal multiray array
is secured to a distal end of the inner tubular member and the
distal multiray array is secured to a distal end of the outer
tubular member.
8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein relative longitudinal movement
of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member adjusts a
distance between the proximal multiray array and the distal
multiray array.
9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the elongated catheter body is
deflectable.
10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein each spine comprises a shape
memory material.
11. A method for mapping a cavity of the body comprising: providing
a catheter having an elongated catheter body with proximal and
distal ends and a dual multiray electrode assembly at the distal
end of the catheter body, wherein the dual multiray electrode
assembly comprises a proximal multiray array and a distal multiray
array, each array comprising a plurality of spines connected at one
end and each spine comprising a plurality of electrodes,
introducing the distal end of the catheter into the cavity;
expanding the dual multiray electrode assembly from a collapsed
configuration wherein the spines are arranged generally along a
longitudinal axis of the catheter body to an expanded
configuration; positioning the dual multiray electrode assembly
within the cavity so that at least a portion of the electrodes are
in contact with tissue forming the cavity; and recording electrical
data received from the at least a portion of the electrodes in
contact with the tissue.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cavity of the body is an
atrium of the heart.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein positioning the dual multiray
electrode assembly within the chamber comprises adjusting a
relative distance between the proximal multiray array and the
distal multiray array.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting the relative distance
between the proximal multiray array and the distal multiray array
causes the proximal multiray array and the distal multiray array to
contact opposing walls of the cavity.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein positioning the dual multiray
electrode assembly within the chamber comprises deflecting the
elongated catheter body.
Description
FIELD OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0001] This invention relates to electrophysiologic (EP) catheters,
in particular, EP catheters for mapping and/or ablation in the
heart.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electrophysiology catheters are commonly-used for mapping
electrical activity in the heart. Various electrode designs are
known for different purposes. For example, catheters having
basket-shaped electrode arrays are known and described, for
example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,772,590, 6,748,255 and 6,973,340, the
entire disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0003] Basket catheters typically have an elongated catheter body
and a basket-shaped electrode assembly mounted at the distal end of
the catheter body. The basket assembly has proximal and distal ends
and comprises a plurality of spines connected at their proximal and
distal ends. Each spine comprises at least one electrode. The
basket assembly has an expanded arrangement wherein the spines bow
radially outwardly and a collapsed arrangement wherein the spines
are arranged generally along the axis of the catheter body.
[0004] It is desirable that a basket assembly be capable of
detecting in as few beats as possible, including a single beat, as
much of the electrical function of the region in which the
electrode assembly is deployed, such as the left or right atrium.
Conventional basket-shaped electrode assemblies are generally
spherical or otherwise describe a smoothly rounded compact volume
in which the spines, and correspondingly the electrodes, are
constrained to the outer surface of the shape. However, the heart
chamber or other region in which the catheter is deployed may not
match the shape of the basket-shaped electrode assembly, resulting
in a suboptimal degree of contact between one or more of the
electrodes carried by the spines and the tissue being
investigated.
[0005] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an EP mapping
catheter that offers increased contact with an irregularly shaped
heart chamber or other body cavity. As such, it would be desirable
to provide such a catheter with spines having a greater degree of
freedom than the spines of a conventional basket-shaped electrode
assembly to allow them to more readily conform to surrounding walls
of tissue. The techniques of this disclosure as described in the
following materials satisfy these and other needs.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure is directed to a catheter with an
elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a dual
multiray electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body,
wherein the dual multiray electrode assembly includes a proximal
multiray array and a distal multiray array, each array comprising a
plurality of spines connected at one end and each spine comprising
a plurality of electrodes and wherein the dual multiray electrode
assembly has an expanded configuration and a collapsed
configuration wherein the spines are arranged generally along a
longitudinal axis of the catheter body.
[0007] In one aspect, the spines may curve radially outwardly in
the expanded configuration. The spines of the proximal multiray
array and the distal multiray array curve the same or opposite
directions. For example, the spines of the proximal multiray array
may curve proximally and the spines of the distal multiray array
may curve distally or the spines of the proximal multiray array may
curve distally and the spines of the distal multiray array may
curve proximally.
[0008] In one aspect, the elongated catheter body may have an inner
tubular member slidably disposed within a lumen of an outer tubular
member, such that the proximal multiray array may be secured to a
distal end of the inner tubular member and the distal multiray
array may be secured to a distal end of the outer tubular member.
Longitudinal movement of the inner tubular member and the outer
tubular member may adjust a distance between the proximal multiray
array and the distal multiray array.
[0009] In one aspect, the elongated catheter body may be
deflectable.
[0010] In one aspect, each spine may be formed from a shape memory
material.
[0011] This disclosure also includes a method for mapping a cavity
of the body. A catheter having an elongated catheter body with
proximal and distal ends and a dual multiray electrode assembly at
the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the dual multiray
electrode assembly comprises a proximal multiray array and a distal
multiray array, each array comprising a plurality of spines
connected at one end and each spine comprising a plurality of
electrodes may be provided. Correspondingly, the distal end of the
catheter may be introduced into the cavity, the dual multiray
electrode assembly may be expanded from a collapsed configuration
wherein the spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis
of the catheter body to an expanded configuration, the dual
multiray electrode assembly may be positioned within the cavity so
that at least a portion of the electrodes are in contact with
tissue forming the cavity and electrical data received from the at
least a portion of the electrodes in contact with the tissue may be
recorded.
[0012] In one aspect, the cavity of the body may be an atrium of
the heart.
[0013] In one aspect, positioning the dual multiray electrode
assembly within the chamber may include adjusting a relative
distance between the proximal multiray array and the distal
multiray array. Adjusting the relative distance between the
proximal multiray array and the distal multiray array may cause the
proximal multiray array and the distal multiray array to contact
opposing walls of the cavity.
[0014] In one aspect, positioning the dual multiray electrode
assembly within the chamber may include deflecting the elongated
catheter body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Further features and advantages will become apparent from
the following and more particular description of the preferred
embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, and in which like referenced characters generally refer
to the same parts or elements throughout the views, and in
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a catheter of the present
invention, with a dual multiray electrode assembly in an expanded
configuration, according to one embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a dual multiray electrode
assembly having a different expanded configuration, according to
one embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a dual multiray electrode
within the left atrium, according to one embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a dual multiray electrode
assembly that is deflected, according to one embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an invasive medical
procedure using a dual multiray electrode assembly, according to
one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] At the outset, it is to be understood that this disclosure
is not limited to particularly exemplified materials,
architectures, routines, methods or structures as such may vary.
Thus, although a number of such options, similar or equivalent to
those described herein, can be used in the practice or embodiments
of this disclosure, the preferred materials and methods are
described herein.
[0022] It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein
is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of this
disclosure only and is not intended to be limiting.
[0023] The detailed description set forth below in connection with
the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to
represent the only exemplary embodiments in which the present
disclosure can be practiced. The term "exemplary" used throughout
this description means "serving as an example, instance, or
illustration," and should not necessarily be construed as preferred
or advantageous over other exemplary embodiments. The detailed
description includes specific details for the purpose of providing
a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the
specification. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
the exemplary embodiments of the specification may be practiced
without these specific details. In some instances, well known
structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to
avoid obscuring the novelty of the exemplary embodiments presented
herein.
[0024] For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional
terms, such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above,
below, beneath, rear, back, and front, may be used with respect to
the accompanying drawings. These and similar directional terms
should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure in any
manner.
[0025] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one
having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure
pertains.
[0026] Finally, as used in this specification and the appended
claims, the singular forms "a, "an" and "the" include plural
referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
[0027] Certain types of electrical activity within a heart chamber
are not cyclical. Examples include arterial flutter or arterial
fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia originating in scars in
the wall of the ventricle that have resulted from infarcts. Such
electrical activity is random from beat to beat. To analyze or
`map` this type of electrical activity, it is desirable to obtain
the `picture` as quickly as possible, such as within one heartbeat.
In other words, all the points of the map or picture may be
obtained simultaneously within one-tenth of a second. According to
the techniques of this disclosure, a dual multiray electrode
assembly may conform more closely to the anatomy of the patient's
heart in order to accurately map this electrical activity.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the catheter 10 has a proximal end with
a control handle 12 and a distal end with a dual multiray electrode
assembly 14 having a plurality of spines 16, each carrying multiple
electrodes 18. Dual multiray electrode assembly 14 may include a
proximal multiray array 20 and a distal multiray array 22. To
enable adjustment in the relative distance between proximal
multiray array 20 and distal multiray array 22, proximal multiray
array 20 may be secured to the distal end of an outer tubular
member 24 that is slidably disposed over inner tubular member 26.
Control handle 12 may be secured to inner tubular member 26 and an
actuator 28 may be secured to the proximal end of outer tubular
member 24, so that by manipulating control handle 12 and actuator
28 to slide longitudinally relative to each other, an
electrophysiologist may control the distance between proximal
multiray array 20 and distal multiray array 22 at the distal end of
catheter 10.
[0029] Inner tubular member 26 and outer tubular members 24 may
constitute the catheter body and each may feature an elongated
construction with a single, axial or central lumen, but can
optionally have multiple lumens if desired. In particular, outer
tubular member 24 may have a central lumen within which inner
tubular member is coaxially disposed. Inner tubular member 26 may
also feature one or more lumens for any suitable purpose, such as
to deliver irrigation fluid. To enable accurate mapping of
electrical signals, for example to detect most or substantially all
of the electrical function of the right or left atrium in as little
as a single heartbeat, it may be desirable to provide dual multiray
electrode assembly 14 with a relatively high density of electrodes
18. As such, the numbers of spines 16 employed may be in the range
of approximately 5 to 12 or any other suitable number. Spines 16
may be evenly or unevenly distributed radially. Further, each spine
16 may include multiple electrodes 18, such as in the range of
approximately 5 to 30 electrodes per spine, although other numbers
of electrodes may be employed. Similarly, the electrodes may be
evenly distributed along the spine or may be skewed proximally,
centrally or distally to facilitate analysis of the measured
electrical signals.
[0030] Inner tubular member 26 and outer tubular members 24 are
flexible, i.e., bendable, but substantially non-compressible along
their lengths. The tubular members may be of any suitable
construction and made of any suitable material. One construction
comprises an outer wall made of polyurethane or PEBAX.RTM.
(polyether block amide). The outer wall comprises an imbedded
braided mesh of stainless steel or the like to increase torsional
stiffness, so that rotation of a proximal end is translated into a
corresponding rotation of the distal end, to facilitate guiding and
positioning of dual multiray electrode assembly 14. The outer
diameter of outer tubular member 24 is not critical, but generally
should be as small as possible and may be no more than about 10
french depending on the desired application. Likewise the
thicknesses of the outer walls of the tubular members is not
critical, but may be thin enough so that interior lumens can
accommodate a puller wire, lead wires, sensor cables and any other
wires, cables or tubes. If desired, the inner surface of one or
both outer walls may be lined with a stiffening tube (not shown) to
provide improved torsional stability. An example of a catheter body
construction suitable for use in connection with the present
invention is described and depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,905, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0031] In one aspect, spines 16 may include a material, such as a
shape memory material as described below, that facilitates assuming
an expanded arrangement to bring electrodes 18 into contact or
closer proximity with tissue lining the walls of the cavity in
which dual multiray electrode assembly 14 is deployed. Notably, as
shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment spines 16 of proximal multiray
array 20 may have a preshaped configuration in which they form an
arc curving in the proximal direction. Further, spines 16 of distal
multiray array 22 may be preshaped to curve in the distal
direction. As will be appreciated, the resiliency associated with
the preshaped configurations may facilitate bringing electrodes 16
into contact with the surrounding tissue. Spines 16 may be sized
appropriately depending on the patient's anatomy to provide a close
fit to the area of the patient being investigated, such as the
right or left atria.
[0032] A similar embodiment of dual multiray electrode assembly 14
is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. Here, spines 16 of proximal
multiray array 20 may be preshaped to curve in the distal direction
and spines 16 of distal multiray array 22 may be preshaped to curve
in the proximal direction. Although this configuration resembles
more conventional basket-shaped electrode assemblies, each spine 16
is secured at only one end, rather than at both proximal and distal
ends. Like the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this affords spines 16 a
greater degree of freedom to conform to the surrounding tissue and
may improve electrode contact. Also, the relative distance between
proximal multiray array 20 and distal multiray array 22 by moving
outer tubular member 24 relative to inner tubular member as
described above. As such, the overall size of the area covered by
electrodes 18 may adjusted. In contrast, a conventional
basket-shaped electrode assembly may be expanded to different
degrees, but does not offer this range of adjustment. In further
embodiments, the spines 16 of both proximal multiray array 20 and
distal multiray array 22 may be preshaped to curve in the same
direction, either proximally or distally. Still further, in other
embodiments, spines 16 may have any suitable preshaped
configuration, including without limitation substantially straight
at desired angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of catheter
10 and S-shaped.
[0033] Further details regarding one suitable construction of
spines 16 are shown in FIG. 2 as well. Each spine 16 may comprise a
flexible wire 30 (shown in phantom) with a non-conductive covering
32 on which one or more of the ring electrodes 18 are mounted. In
an embodiment, the flexible wires 30 may be formed from a shape
memory material to facilitate the transition between expanded and
collapsed arrangements and the non-conductive coverings 32 may each
comprise a biocompatible plastic tubing, such as polyurethane or
polyimide tubing. For example, nickel-titanium alloys known as
nitinol may be used. At body temperature, nitinol wire is flexible
and elastic and, like most metals, nitinol wires deform when
subjected to minimal force and return to their shape in the absence
of that force. Nitinol belongs to a class of materials called
Shaped Memory Alloys (SMA) that have interesting mechanical
properties beyond flexibility and elasticity, including shape
memory and superelasticity which allow nitinol to have a "memorized
shape" that is dependent on its temperature phases. The austenite
phase is nitinol's stronger, higher-temperature phase, with a
simple cubic crystalline structure. Superelastic behavior occurs in
this phase (over a 50.degree.-60.degree. C. temperature spread).
Correspondingly, the martensite phase is a relatively weaker,
lower-temperature phase with a twinned crystalline structure. When
a nitinol material is in the martensite phase, it is relatively
easily deformed and will remain deformed. However, when heated
above its austenite transition temperature, the nitinol material
will return to its pre-deformed shape, producing the "shape memory"
effect. The temperature at which nitinol starts to transform to
austenite upon heating is referred to as the "As" temperature. The
temperature at which nitinol has finished transforming to austenite
upon heating is referred to as the "AF" temperature. Accordingly,
the dual multiray electrode assembly 14 may have a three
dimensional shape that can be easily collapsed to be fed into a
guiding sheath and then readily returned to its expanded shape
memory configuration upon delivery to the desired region of the
patient upon removal of the guiding sheath.
[0034] Alternatively, in some embodiments the spines 16 can be
designed without the internal flexible wire 30 if a sufficiently
rigid nonconductive material is used for the non-conductive
covering 32 to permit radial expansion of the dual multiray
electrode assembly 14, so long as the spine has an outer surface
that is non-conductive over at least a part of its surface for
mounting of the ring electrodes 18.
[0035] In one aspect, an electrophysiologist may introduce a
guiding sheath, guidewire and dilator into the patient, as is
generally known in the art. Examples of suitable guiding sheaths
for use in connection with the inventive catheter are the
PREFACE.TM. Braided Guiding Sheath (commercially available from
Biosense Webster, Inc., Diamond Bar, Calif.) and the DiRex.TM.
Guiding Sheath (commercially available from BARD, Murray Hill,
N.J.). The guidewire is inserted, the dilator is removed, and the
catheter is introduced through the guiding sheath whereby the
guidewire lumen in the expander permits the catheter to pass over
the guidewire. In one exemplary procedure as depicted in FIG. 3,
the catheter is first introduced to the right atrium (RA) via the
inferior vena cava (IVC), where it passes through the septum (S) in
order to reach the left atrium (LA).
[0036] As will be appreciated, the guiding sheath covers the spines
16 of the dual multiray electrode assembly 14 in a collapsed
position so that the entire catheter can be passed through the
patient's vasculature to the desired location. The expander 22 may
be positioned distally of the catheter body to allow the spines of
the assembly to be flattened while the assembly is passed through
the guiding sheath. Once the distal end of the catheter reaches the
desired location, e.g., the left atrium, the guiding sheath is
withdrawn to expose the dual multiray electrode assembly 14. Once
the guiding sheath is withdrawn, spines 16 flex outwardly and
attempt to assume their preshaped expanded configuration. With the
dual multiray electrode assembly 14 radially expanded, the ring
electrodes 18 contact atrial tissue. Aspects of the configuration
of dual multiray electrode assembly 14 may be tailored to more
closely conform to the area in which it is deployed.
[0037] In one aspect, outer tubular member 24 may be withdrawn
proximally, such as by manipulation of actuator 28, to impart a
desired degree of contact between the electrodes 18 of proximal
multiray array 20 into contact with the septum wall. Further, inner
tubular member 26 may be advanced distally, such as by manipulation
of control handle 12, to bring distal multiray array 22 into
contact with the opposing wall. These techniques may be adapted for
any cavity in which dual multiray electrode assembly 14 may be
deployed and used to adjust dual multiray electrode assembly 14 to
the size of the cavity. When the dual multiray electrode assembly
14 is expanded, and the relative distance between proximal multiray
array 20 and distal multiray array 22 adjusted if desired, the
electrophysiologist may map local activation time and/or ablate
using electrodes 18, which can guide the electrophysiologist in
diagnosing and providing therapy to the patient. The catheter may
include one or more reference ring electrodes mounted on the
catheter body and/or one or more reference electrodes may be placed
outside the body of the patient. By using the inventive catheter
with the multiple electrodes on the dual multiray electrode
assembly, the electrophysiologist can obtain a true anatomy of a
cavernous region of the heart, including an atrium, by measuring
less points than with traditional catheters, allowing a more rapid
mapping of the region.
[0038] In a further aspect, each spine 16 may include cabling with
built-in or embedded lead wires for the electrodes 18 carried by
the spine as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/860,921,
filed Apr. 11, 2013, entitled HIGH DENSITY ELECTRODE STRUCTURE, and
U.S. application Ser. No. 14/063,477, filed Oct. 25, 2013, entitled
CONNECTION OF ELECTRODES TO WIRES COILED ON A CORE, the entire
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0039] Returning to FIG. 1, dual multiray electrode assembly 14 may
include a deflectable portion to impart further control over which
areas of tissue are contacted in some embodiments. At least one
puller wire 34 may be secured at its distal end to a distal portion
of inner tubular member 26 and at its proximal end to a deflection
arm 36 on control handle 12. Rotating deflection arm 36 places
puller wire 34 under tension, producing a deflection of inner
tubular member 26. One puller wire may be employed to impart a
uni-directional deflection, while an additional puller wire may
provide bi-directional deflection. Examples of suitable
construction details for deflectable catheters for are described in
U.S. Pat. No. 7,377, 906, entitled STEERING MECHANISM FOR
BI-DIRECTIONAL CATHETER, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,137,308, entitled
CATHETER WITH ADJUSTABLE DEFLECTION SENSITIVITY, the entire
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. FIG. 4
illustrates the deflection of distal multiray array 22 of dual
multiray electrode assembly 14. Alternatively or in addition, outer
tubular member 24 may also be deflectable as desired using similar
techniques.
[0040] To help illustrate use of the dual multiray electrode
assembly 14, FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of an invasive medical
procedure, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Catheter 10, with the dual multiray electrode assembly 14 (not
shown in this view) at the distal end may have a connector 50 at
the proximal end for coupling the wires from their respective
electrodes 18 (not shown in this view) to a console 52 for
recording and analyzing the signals they detect. An
electrophysiologist 54 may insert the catheter 10 into a patient 56
in order to acquire electropotential signals from the heart 58 of
the patient. The professional uses the control handle 14 attached
to the catheter in order to perform the insertion. Console 52 may
include a processing unit 60 which analyzes the received signals,
and which may present results of the analysis on a display 62
attached to the console. The results are typically in the form of a
map, numerical displays, and/or graphs derived from the
signals.
[0041] In a further aspect, the processing unit 60 may also receive
signals from one or more location sensors 36 provided near a distal
end of the catheter 10 adjacent the dual multiray electrode
assembly 14 as schematically indicated in FIG. 1. The sensor(s) may
each comprise a magnetic-field-responsive coil or a plurality of
such coils. Using a plurality of coils enables six-dimensional
position and orientation coordinates to be determined The sensors
may therefore generate electrical position signals in response to
the magnetic fields from external coils, thereby enabling processor
60 to determine the position, (e.g., the location and orientation)
of the distal end of catheter 10 within the heart cavity. The
electrophysiologist may then view the position of the dual multiray
electrode assembly 14 on an image the patient's heart on the
display 62. By way of example, this method of position sensing may
be implemented using the CARTO.TM. system, produced by Biosense
Webster Inc. (Diamond Bar, Calif.) and is described in detail in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,391,199; 6,690,963; 6,484,118; 6,239,724;
6,618,612 and 6,332,089, in PCT Patent Publication WO 96/05768, and
in U.S. Patent Application Publications 2002/0065455 A1,
2003/0120150 A1 and 2004/0068178 A1, whose disclosures are all
incorporated herein by reference. As will be appreciated, other
location sensing techniques may also be employed. If desired, at
least two location sensors may be positioned proximally and
distally of the dual multiray electrode assembly 14. The
coordinates of the distal sensor relative to the proximal sensor
may be determined and, with other known information pertaining to
the curvature of the spines 16 of the dual multiray electrode
assembly 14, used to find the positions of each of the electrodes
18.
[0042] The preceding description has been presented with reference
to presently disclosed embodiments of the invention. Workers
skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains
will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described
structure may be practiced without meaningfully departing from the
principal, spirit and scope of this invention. As understood by one
of ordinary skill in the art, the drawings are not necessarily to
scale. Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be read as
pertaining only to the precise structures described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, but rather should be read consistent
with and as support to the following claims which are to have their
fullest and fair scope.
* * * * *